TOWN OF SUTTON
Pillsbury Memorial Town Hall
93 Main Street Sutton Mills, NH
Sutton Mills, NH 03221
Select Board

March 14, 2022 @ 4:30 p.m.

 

               

Dane Headley, Selectman, opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present at the meeting were:  Dane Headley, Chair; Walter Baker, Jr., Selectman; Michael McManus, Selectman; Yvonne Howard, Town Clerk/Tax Collector; Tom Schamberg, State Representative, and Elly Phillips, Town Administrator.

 

OATH OF OFFICE:

Yvonne Howard, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, administered the oath of office to Michael McManus, Selectman, for a term until March 2025.

Michael McManus, Selectman, administered the oath of office to Yvonne Howard, Town Clerk/Tax Collector for a term until March 2024.

 

ELECTION OF CHAIR:

Selectman Baker made a motion to elect Selectman Headley as Chair for a one year term.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

EX-OFFICIO APPOINTMENTS:

The Board discussed ex-officio offices.  Selectman Baker expressed a willingness to continue on the Budget Committee.  Selectman McManus said that he would also like to attend and serve as alternate in the event of an unforeseen absence.  Selectman Headley moved to nominate Selectman Baker to serve as ex-officio representative to the Budget Committee.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.  Selectman Baker moved to nominate Selectman Headley to serve as ex-officio member of the Planning Board.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.  Selectman Headley moved to appoint Selectman Baker as an alternate member to the Conservation Commission for a term until 2025.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

Selectman Headley discussed the conduct of Select Board meetings.  The Board agreed to continue to open the meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance.   Selectman Headley stated that during the meetings every effort is made to stay on topic.  Small talk is reserved to before and after the meeting.  The Board also endeavors to refrain from discussing national politics.   The Board agreed that Select Board Meetings will begin at 5:00 p.m. effective March 21, 2022.  Selectman Headley will discuss the new meeting schedule with Robert DeFelice, Budget Chair.

 

The public and nonpublic minutes from March 7, 2022, were approved as written.  The Board reviewed and approved the following manifests:

Vendor Manifest:  $46,669.68

Payroll Manifest:   $11,217.76

 

APPOINTMENTS:

Tim Hayes, Cemetery Trustee, met with the Board to discuss the expenditure process for the Mastin Road Cemetery.  Selectman Headley reviewed the bid process.  Mr. Hayes asked if he could use local contractors for preliminary permitting and surveying and was given permission to do so.  Mr. Hayes advised that he was seeking recommendations from the New Hampshire Cemetery Association for engineering and planning as they provide referrals for this specialized field.  Mr. Hayes also requested approval for funding to become a member of the NH Cemetery Association.  The Board agreed with this request with funding to come from of the cemetery operating budget.  Selectman Headley stated that the bid package distribution will be based on recommendations from Mr. Hayes and the NH Cemetery Association.  Mr. Hayes expressed an interest in being actively involved in the Mastin Cemetery layout.  There was a discussion regarding the use of vaults in the cemetery as a space saving measure.  Land clearing was also discussed.   It was noted that there is a vacancy on the Cemetery Commission and that interested citizens should contact the town administrator.  Selectman McManus advised that there was tree damage at the Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Selectman Headley said that the Code of Conduct policy is undergoing final revision.  Selectman Headley will invite Mr. Curless to the meeting to finalize the policy as he was a participant in the formulation of the initial concept and draft of the policy.

 

The Town has received a decision on the Stotler property and has been granted the writ of possession.  Next steps for the final eviction and property cleanup were discussed.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board executed the following 2022 Board Appointment Forms:

Bonnie Hill, Conservation Commission Member for a term until 2025

Lynn Wittman, Conservation Commission Member for a term until 2025

Glenn Pogust, Planning Board Member for a term until 2025

David Hill, Planning Board Member for a term until 2025

Jennifer Call, Treasurer, for a term until 2023

Mark Beauchemin, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Building Code of Appeals Member, Alternate, for a term until 2025

Kathryn Beauchemin, Zoning Board of Adjustment Member and Building Code of Appeals Member for a term until 2025

Derek Lick, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Building Code of Appeals Member, for a term until 2025

 

Selectman Baker made a motion to pay the employees the 5.9% COLA increases retroactively, effective January 1, 2022.  Selectman Headley seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.

 

The Board executed DRA Form MS-232 – Report of Appropriations Actually Voted.

 

Selectman McManus made a motion to accept a bequeathment of an IRA from Richard Russell to the Millswood Cemetery in the amount of $13,922.24.  Selectman Baker seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous affirmative vote.  Select Board Chair, Dane Headley executed the required IRA documents on behalf of the Town of Sutton, Millswood Cemetery.

 

The Board discussed Highway Department wage recommendations from Adam Hurst, Road Agent, and will meet with the Road Agent to discuss in further detail at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

NONPUBLIC SESSION: 

At 5:51 p.m. Selectman Headley made a motion to enter into non-public session Pursuant to RSA 91-A:3,II(b) The hiring of any person as a public employee.  Selectman McManus seconded the motion.  The Board was polled with Selectman Headley, Baker and McManus voting in the affirmative.  Public session resumed at 5:54 p.m.  The minutes were not sealed.  James Peschel was hired as a CDL-licensed highway crew member at a starting rate of $20.50/hr.

 

Selectman Headley discussed the new requirements for obtaining a CDL licensed.  New hires need to be trained by a certified trainer.  CDL training by the state will cost $10,000.  Selectman McManus was hopeful that municipalities will implement a consortium for state approved CDL training that will result in a more affordable cost for training.

 

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:

Selectman McManus said that he was enjoying his office.  Selectman Headley responded that it was an honor to have him and welcomed Selectman to the Board.  Selectman Headley and Baker agreed that they enjoyed and looked forward to serving the Town.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elly Phillips

Town Administrator